A day after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) combed Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi for separatists, defence experts, including two who served in the Indian Army, condemned countries that fund terror outfits.
In the meeting on 21st Century Terrorism-Challenges for India, Maj. Gen. Dhruv C Katoch (retired), secretary general of Indian War Veterans Association (IWVA) asked Pakistan and China to stop funding terrorism.
India’s conflict areas including North-East, Kashmir and Red Corridor have been seeing high level of intervention from countries which support terror. “In Kashmir arms come from Pakistan and funds come from Saudi Arabia. In North-East some unscrupulous Christian missionaries support insurgents. And China has a direct hand in Maoist surge in the Red Corridor,” said Katoch, who is also president of India Foundation.
At the meet, Lt. General Mohammad Ahmed Zaki (retired) who served as an advisor to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Chancellor of Jamia Milia Islamia said Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan has had direct hand in terror strikes run by militants in Kashmir.
Counter narrative
The Army veterans said that terrorists have been getting moral and network support online. “They have built a narrative to support terrorists. We need to build a counter narrative to support Indian democracy,” Mr. Katoch said. Speaking of the recent flare-up in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, Katoch observed Kashmiri Jamooriat had died in the 1970s when the region got radicalised through separatist propaganda.
At the meet which is expected to have more than one episode of discussions, Director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Shakti Sinha said: “Taking a cue from countries like Bangladesh, Singapore and Malaysia, India should crackdown on terrorism and destroy the very roots of it. Social media and cyber space should be monitored closely to prevent dissemination of terrorist ideology.”
